Garment-stretcher.



No. 830,257. PATENTD SEPT. 4, 1906. W. H. SMITH E W. K. sHULTz.

GARMENT STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19. 1905.

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UNITED STATES FAEENT f FFiCE.

VILLIAM H. SMITH AND WILLIAM K. SHULTZ, OF ALLEGHENY, PENN- SYLVANIA.

GARNlEN'T-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application l'ld September 19, 1905. Serial N0. 279.174.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, VILLIAM H. SMITH and WILLIAM K. SHULTz, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment- Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain useful improvements in devices for creasing trousers.

The invention particularly comprises a pair of frame members united by expansive resilient connections, said frame members being formed in hinged sections which are foldable upon one another.

The objection to devices of this type as heretofore constructed is that the frame members are rigid throughout their entire length and being of sul'licient length to ace cornmodate various sizes of trousers cannot be convenientlyT carried in traveling.

The primary object of our invention is to eliminate inthis type of construction the above objection by hinging the frame members as above indicated, so that they may be folded into a fraction of their original size. In conjunction with this construction we have provided means for locking said members in an open or expanded position.

The detail construction will appear in the course of the following description, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, like numerals designating like parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device constructed in accordance with our suggestion in its open or expanded position ready for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the same folded upon itself and of a size usually packed away in a trunk or suitcase. Fig. 3 is a view of a means for locking the sections in their open position. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a modification applic-able to the same function, and Fig. 5 represents in detail the construction of the hinged portions of the frame that they adjoin. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of one of the frame members.

As shown in the drawings, the invention comprises side bars 1, which are counterparts in construction and are preferably formed of light wood. The bars 1 are formed with sharpened outer edges 2, by which the crease is made in the trousers. Each bar 1 embodies hinge-sections 3 and 4, the section 3 being designed for the thigh portion of the trousers and section 4 for the lower portion. Sections 3 of each member 1 are united by an expansive spring 3, which is rigidly secured thereto at its end, as at 3b, and the sections 4 are united in the same manner. The adjacent sections 3 and 4 are hinged, as at 4a, to

one another, one of said sections, arbitrarily the section 4, being formed at the knuckle 5, which interfits in a recess 6 in the opposing section 3.

Secured to the inner side of the sections 4 are metallic plates 7, which project above said sections and in the open position, as shown in Fig. 1, overlie the sections 3. Each plate 7 is formed at its top with an opening 8, which, as shown in Fig. 3, may be in the form of a lateral recess, through which opening extends the shank portion of a bolt or set-screw 9, which is threaded into section 3 and bears against the plates 7,so as to effect a locking engagement between said sections in their open position. This construction is shown in detail in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 4 we have illustrated a modification in which the hinged knuckle-joint is eniployed, as in the preceding construction, but wherein a bolt l0 is used to lock the sections together, said bolt passing through the bifurcated ends l1 of section 3, formed by the recess 6, and resting in a recess 12, formed in the side of knuckle 5. The bolt 10 is held and tightened in position by means of a setnut 9;

It is to be observed that the provision of the knuckle 5 upon the section 4 affords shoulders 13 on each side thereof, which bear against the confronting edges of the section 3.

It is obvious that various minor changes may be made in the invention, such as in the number of hinged sections, thearrangement in construction of the springs, and the disposition and construction of the locking element, without departing from the spirit and IOO scope thereof as defined in the appended `passing through said knuckle-joints for lock= claim. ing said sections, in an open position.

Having fully described our invention, We In testimony whereof We aliX our signacla11ntures 1n the presence of tWo Witnesses,

5 A device of the ty e set forth, embodying a t pair of spaced para lel bars, each bar being formed of a lurality of sections, united by hinged knue le-joints, resilient expansive Witnesses: connections interposed severally between the H. C. vEVERT, ro corresponding pairs of'seotions, and bolts WM. C. HEITZ.

WILLIAM IL SMITH. WILLIAM K. SHULTZ. 

